Please read this outline in conjunction with the following pages on the
School of Medical Sciences website:

Advice for Students

Learning Resources
(or see "STUDENTS" tab at medicalsciences.med.unsw.edu.au)
COURSE COORDINATORS
Dr. Tim Murphy, Room 316 WW West (ph: 9385 3600) [email protected]
Dr. Fiona Britton, Room 315 WW West (ph: 9385 0585) [email protected]
COURSE OUTLINE AND STRUCTURE
The cardiovascular system is vital to normal functioning of the human body. Diseases afflicting
the cardiovascular system result in high rates of illness and mortality throughout the world. This
course aims to educate the student in important aspects of cardiovascular physiology and
pathophysiology, and to present the latest research strategies used to investigate this complex
system.
The course is divided into three units, over which the student will be taken from the physiology
of cardiac and vascular cells, examine the function and regulation of these cells within vascular
tissues and organs, and finally learn about the latest theories and techniques leading research
into cardiovascular pathophysiology and disease. As the course progresses, material builds on
information presented in earlier classes. Course material is delivered by staff actively engaged
in cardiovascular research, able to illustrate theory with examples from their own laboratories.
Unit 1: Cellular Aspects
The aim of this unit is to become familiar with the cellular characteristics of the blood vessels
wall. Further emphasis will be placed on interactions that occur between vascular cells and the
extracellular environment.
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



Endothelial cells
Cardiac Muscle
Smooth Muscle: Signal transduction, contractile activity, mechanics.
Electrophysiology: Ion channels relevant to the cardiovascular system.
Cellular Junctions: Gap junctions, adherens junctions, integrins
Unit 2: Integration and Control of the Cardiovascular System
This unit aims to expand the knowledge obtained in Unit 1 into circulatory systems and control
situations.
 Haemodynamics
 Microcirculation
 Lymphatics: fluid exchange, oedema, cellular basis of lymphatic function
 Control of blood pressure
 Control of cardiac output
 Interaction with Neurohumoral Control: autonomic, hormonal, paracrine
 Control of the Regional Circulations
 Cardiovascular Regulation During Exercise
Unit 3: Molecular Approaches in the Study of the Cardiovascular System
Using modern state-of-the-art experimental approaches this unit aims to use pathophysiological
situations to highlight function of the cardiovascular system.
 Circulatory Shock
 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Heart Failure
 Atherosclerosis – alterations in lipid handling leading to disturbed endothelial function
and vasoreactivity.
 Reactive Oxygen Species / Ischemia Reperfusion / Adhesion
 Hypertension – use of animal models, including transgenic animals, for the study of
disturbances in blood pressure control.
ASSESSMENT AND TEACHING ACTIVITIES
Final Examination
Mid-session Test
50%
20%
Practical
10%
Poster Presentation
PBLs
10%
10%
Total
100%
In order to achieve a satisfactory
performance in this course it is
anticipated that students will
achieve a pass mark, or higher,
in each assessment task.
Final Examination
The final examination will be composed of multiple-choice and short answer questions covering the entire
course. Post or supplementary exams will be made available only in exceptional circumstances.
Mid-Session Test
The mid-session test on April 12th will be a brief test on the material covered to that point of the course
only (not including practical material), consisting of multiple-choice and short-answer questions.
Poster Presentation
Work will be undertaken in groups of 3-4, to which students will be assigned. Each group will have a topic
area assigned to them, and a published paper to report upon. The final product will be a Poster and
should include: an Introduction; Methods; Data drawn from the article; Summary.
This poster must be completed for display in room WW116 by 9AM on Friday 2nd June 2016.
Each group is expected to provide a brief (5 mins) oral presentation of poster.
Possible Topics:
1. Endothelium-mediated vasodilatation.
2. Conducted responses in the vasculature.
3. Ca2+-dependency of smooth muscle contraction.
4. Ion channels in regulation of vascular tone.
5. Ion channels in regulation of cardiac function.
6. Mechanotransduction in vascular / cardiac cells.
7. Regulation of lymphatic (vaso) motion.
8. Exercise and cardiovascular remodelling.
9. Impact of altitude on cardiovascular physiology.
10. Transgenic models in the study of the cardiovascular system.
11. Cellular mechanisms underlying hypertension.
12. Cellular mechanisms underlying atherosclerosis.
13. Circulatory shock
14. Mechanisms underlying cardiac arrhythmia / heart failure.
15. Vascular remodelling.
Students may select a topic from the above list, plus a journal article upon which to base their final
presentation. Students may use the literature to find extra journal articles to complement their poster
presentation. Students may consult with Dr. Murphy or other staff members regarding their assigned
topic prior to completing the poster project. Assessment will be based on both the poster presentation
and its oral defence.
Practical Classes and Test
There are four ‘wet’ practical classes; Cardiac Muscle; Recording and Interpretation of the ECG; Exercise
Physiology and the Autonomic Nervous System. Students will be examined on the findings of these
practicals and the concepts explored in a 1-hour on-line exam during Week 11 (May 15th-19th), which will
consist of multiple-choice and short-answer questions.
Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Session
Students will undertake self-directed learning using case studies or scenarios relevant to cardiovascular
physiology. In an introductory session students will be given an outline of the problem and “clues”
towards what information is required. Students will then research the material and present their findings
at a subsequent session. Facilitators will be available to provide direction.
Tutorials
Each unit is followed by a tutorial, with practice multi-choice and short-answer questions on-line. These
questions do not constitute a ‘bank’ of questions and will not appear on any exam. In addition, students
are encouraged to collect and submit any questions relating to lecture material, either directly via e-mail
or through the discussion boards on Moodle.
TIMETABLE 2017
Unit One
Unit Two
3
4
5
Unit Two
6
7
8
9
10
Unit Three
11
12
13
Activity (Lecture, Practical, Problem Based Learning)
Teacher
L - Course Introduction / Cardiac Muscle
Mat D
TM / MaP
P - Cardiac Muscle (A)
WW116 TM, SW, NA
P - Cardiac Muscle (B)
WW116 TM, SW, NA
Mon 13th Mar
L - Vascular Smooth Muscle: Electrophysiology
Mat D
TM
Wed 15th Mar
L - Vascular Endothelium
Mat D
TM
PBL-1.1 ‘Joan Murray’ A: Mat 230; B: Mat 231;
Fri 17th Mar
TM, FB,WH
C: Mat 232
PBL-1.1 ‘Joan Murray’ D: Mat230, E: Mat231,
1-3
FB,WH
F: JGoodsLG19
Mon 20th Mar
5-6
L - Gap Junctions in the Cardiovascular System
Mat D
SS
Wed 22nd Mar
2-4
L - Vascular Smooth Muscle: Mechanics
Mat D
TM
Fri 24th Mar
9-12
P - Computer Lab: Isolated Heart Muscle and
WW116 TM, SW, AK
Cardiovascular Exercises
1-4
P - Computer Lab: Isolated Heart Muscle and
WW116 TM, SW, AK
Cardiovascular Exercises
Mon 27th Mar
5-6
Tutorial Unit One
Mat D
TM / on-line
Wed 29th Mar
2-4
L - Control of Cardiac Output
Mat D
FB
PBL-1.2 ‘Joan Murray’ A: Mat230, B: Mat231,
Fri 31st Mar
9-11
TM, FB, WH
C: Mat232
PBL-1.2 ‘Joan Murray’ D: Mat230, E: Mat231,
1-3
FB, WH
F: JGoodsLG19
Mon 3rd Apr
5-6
L - Introduction to the ECG
Mat D
KG
Weds 5th Apr
2-4
L - Haemodynamics
Mat D
MiP
Fri 7th Apr
9-12
P - Recording and Interpretation of the ECG (A)
WW116 KG, TM, FB
1-4
P - Recording and Interpretation of the ECG (B)
WW116 KG, TM, FB
Mon 10th Apr
5-6
L - Microcirculation & Lymphatics
Mat D
TM
Wed 12th Apr
2-3
Mid-Session Exam
Mat D
TM, SW
14th - 23rd Apr - MID SESSION RECESS - MID SESSION RECESS - MID SESSION RECESS
Mon 24th Apr
5-6
L - Cardiovascular Regulation During Exercise
Mat D
SB
Wed 26th Apr
2-4
L - Control of Blood Pressure
Mat D
TM
Fri 28th Apr
9-12
P - Exercise Physiology (A)
WW116 SB, staff
1-4
P - Exercise Physiology (B)
WW116 SB, staff
Mon 1st May
5-6
L - Autonomic Control of the Cardiovascular
Mat D
LL
Weds 3rd May
2-4
System
Mat D
TM
Fri 5th May
9-12
L - Control of the Regional Circulations
WW116 TM, SW, AK
1-4
P - Autonomic Control of the CVS
WW116 TM, SW, AK
P - Autonomic Control of the CVS
Mon 8th May
5-6
Tutorial Unit 2
Mat D
TM
Wed 10th May
2-4
L - Hypertension
Mat D
MM
PBL-2.1 ‘Michael Koval’ A: Mat 230, B: Mat231,
Fri 12thMay
9-11
TM, FB,WH
C: Mat232
PBL-2.1 ‘Michael Koval’ D: Mat230, E: Mat231,
1-3
TM, FB,WH
F: JGoodsLG19
Mon 15th May
PRAC EXAM OPEN
On line
Wed 17th May
5-6
L - Cardiac Arrhythmia
Mat D
JV
Fri 19th May
2-4
L - Atherosclerosis
Mat D
BC
PRAC EXAM CLOSED
On line
Wed 24th May
2-3
L - Oxygen Radicals and Reperfusion Injury
Mat D
NJ
3-4
L - Circulatory Shock
Mat D
TM
PBL-2.2 ‘Michael Koval’ A: Mat 230, B: Mat231,
Fri 26th Jun
9-11
TM, FB, WH
C: Mat232
PBL-2.2 ‘Michael Koval’ D: Mat230, E: Mat231,
1-3
TM, FB, WH
F: Mat232
Wed 31st May
2-3
L - Heart Failure
Mat D
TC
Fri 2nd Jun
3-4
Tutorial Unit 3
Mat D
TM / on-line
9-12
Poster Presentations
WW116 Staff
Date
Wed 8th Mar
Fri 10th Mar
Unit One
Wk
2
Time
2-4
9-12
1-4
5-6
2-4
9-11
LECTURERS AND TEACHING STAFF
AK
BC
FB
HN
JV
KG
LL
MM
MaP
MiP
NA
NJ
SB
SS
SW
TC
TM
WH
Mr Ashor Koshaba
Dr Blake Cochran
Dr Fiona Britton
Mr Hong Nguyen
Prof Jamie Vandenberg
Dr Karen Gibson
A/Prof Lu Liu
Prof. Margaret Morris
Dr Matt Perry
A/Prof Michael Perry
Ms Nadia Amorim
Dr Nicole Jones
A/Prof Steve Boutcher
Dr Shaun Sandow
Dr Sarah Wright
Prof Terry Campbell
Dr Tim Murphy
Dr Will Hatton